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Job outlook for electrical engineer interns in the United States
Electrical engineer internship job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected electrical engineer internship job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 9,800 new jobs for electrical engineer interns are projected over the next decade.
Electrical engineer internship salaries have increased 7% for electrical engineer interns in the last 5 years.
There are over 55,782 electrical engineer interns currently employed in the United States.
There are 80,744 active electrical engineer internship job openings in the US.
The average electrical engineer internship salary is $63,398.
Are electrical engineer internship jobs in demand?
Electrical engineer internship job and salary trends over time
Electrical engineer internship jobs over time
Electrical engineer internship job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55,782 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 55,543 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 55,648 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 55,923 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 54,988 | 0.02% |
Average electrical engineer internship salary over time
Electrical engineer internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,398 | $30.48 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $61,952 | $29.78 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $60,764 | $29.21 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $59,770 | $28.74 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $59,236 | $28.48 | +1.3% |
Electrical engineer internship jobs by state
Most common states for electrical engineer interns
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 198 | 29% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,061 | 13% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 721 | 11% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 607 | 11% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 597 | 10% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 98 | 10% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 663 | 9% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 292 | 9% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 3,095 | 8% |
| 10 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 570 | 8% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 48 | 8% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 377 | 7% |
| 13 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 348 | 7% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 302 | 7% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 125 | 7% |
| 16 | Vermont | 623,657 | 46 | 7% |
| 17 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 558 | 6% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 342 | 6% |
| 19 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 196 | 6% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 84 | 6% |
Most common cities for electrical engineer interns
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farmington Hills | 8 | 10% | $62,225 |
| 2 | Kokomo | 3 | 5% | $57,897 |
| 3 | Noblesville | 3 | 5% | $57,715 |
| 4 | Orlando | 9 | 3% | $62,929 |
| 5 | Lansing | 3 | 3% | $61,776 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 8 | 2% | $61,380 |
| 7 | Ann Arbor | 3 | 2% | $61,950 |
| 8 | Huntsville | 3 | 2% | $55,563 |
| 9 | Denver | 7 | 1% | $62,230 |
| 10 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $72,083 |
| 11 | Wichita | 4 | 1% | $56,472 |
| 12 | Des Moines | 3 | 1% | $60,206 |
| 13 | Minneapolis | 3 | 1% | $65,268 |
| 14 | Chicago | 12 | 0% | $61,592 |
| 15 | Phoenix | 8 | 0% | $62,192 |
| 16 | San Diego | 4 | 0% | $74,682 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $57,519 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $76,332 |
Electrical Engineer Internship job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of electrical engineer internship experts
Gonzaga University
Stevens Institute of Technology
California State University - Fresno
California State University - Fresno
University of Alabama at Birmingham
San Diego State University
Jackson State University
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
University of Utah
University of Connecticut
Old Dominion University
University of Central Florida
Tufts University
Michigan Technological University
University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
Kennesaw State University
Rice University
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
What general advice would you give to an Electrical Engineer Internship?
Craig Johnson Ph.D., P.E.: To begin your career in our field, please know that there are some shared values, some behavior constraints, and some awesome possible career paths for you to explore! Our program is accredited through ABET, which means that you can acquire your Professional Engineering licensure. Along with licensure are ethics compliance and legal behavior. You must put safety as a first constraint in all work. Create great technical solutions to real problems that may affect us all. Politics and company policies evolve, and we must evolve with them. New finance realities dictate that you will be more active in both seeking new jobs and changing jobs to promote your careers. You are at the center of many crossroads of technical activity that present options for your path forward.
What Electrical Engineer Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Craig Johnson Ph.D., P.E.: Network with your peers and have job opportunities in sight at all times. Keep up your virtual profiles and be the engineer everyone wants to have around. Each job selection is your choice, but networking and being proactive in seeking opportunities is crucial to maximizing your salary potential.
What will help Electrical Engineer Interns increase their earning potential?
Craig Johnson Ph.D., P.E.: Master basic science and engineering concepts, as well as application of 'soft skills' such as written and verbal communication. Acquire skills and knowledge areas in electromechanical devices, especially in areas of energy and heat transfer, reflecting current issues related to climate change and power management.
What general advice would you give to an Electrical Engineer Internship?
Steven Schennum Ph.D. P.E.: Make sure electrical engineering is something that YOU want to do and not something you are doing for someone else (a friend, a relative, etc.). I’ve had students who were pursuing an EE degree just to make their parents (or uncle, or whomever) proud, and weren’t really interested in what they are studying. If you do not have the passion to be an engineer, then do something else. In addition to passion, engineering requires a lot of math, reason, and logic. If you are easily frustrated, struggle with mathematics, and are inclined to give up, then don’t waste your time. Find a more suitable way to live your life. If you live your life by disregarding your own interests while trying to gain the approval of someone else, you will wind up being miserable.
What Electrical Engineer Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Steven Schennum Ph.D. P.E.: The most important skill is the ability to learn new things, and especially to unlearn things you “know” after evidence demonstrates that these things are not true. Learn how to analyze information. Your intuition, simulations, and results should all be in alignment. If they are not, then dig deeper. Learn the terminology and jargon specific to your company and your projects. Spend time reading. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be intimidated by new software.
What will help Electrical Engineer Interns increase their earning potential?
Steven Schennum Ph.D. P.E.: Put a good resume together and follow suggestions of people who are experts at preparing resumes. Before you have an interview, practice interviewing. Participate in a mock interview and listen to feedback. Maximize salary potential by documenting your accomplishments, your work, and your results. Keep a journal. If you have good documentation, you can more easily make a case for promotion when the time comes.
What general advice would you give to an Electrical Engineer Internship?
Min Song: Well, first, it’s important to be aware of typical salary ranges within the field and for the company extending an offer in particular, with that knowledge individuals can negotiate to maximize their compensation package. Generally speaking, the job description is great place to start to understand your competitiveness as a candidate and how to make the case for higher compensation. You might not possess all the skills on the list, but you must trust yourself that you will acquire all the needed skills and convince the employer that you will excel in performing the job and thus merit a higher starting salary. One way to earn a salary raise is to continuously improve your skillset, expand your knowledge base, and keep up with the state-of-the-art technology in your field. Another way is to build your professional network and identity, which can lead to promotions or a better job opportunity.
What Electrical Engineer Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Min Song: Communication skills and innovative thinking skills. As emerging technologies continue to be complex and multidisciplinary, it’s important to be able to communicate with professionals in diverse disciplines. Taking robotics, for example, the electrical engineer must be able to work with mechanical and biomechanical engineers, computer engineers, software engineers, artificial intelligence experts, cognitive scientists, system engineers, etc. A person will be able to generate innovative ideas only if the person has a complete and comprehensive understanding of the entire system and can work well with other individuals with a range of expertise.
What will help Electrical Engineer Interns increase their earning potential?
Min Song: Have an open mind and be willing to learn new knowledge and skills. College education primarily focuses on the development of critical and creative thinking skills, the learning of fundamental principles and design methodologies, and the building up of enthusiasm and dedication to lifelong learning. Starting a professional career requires new graduates develop the ability to translate the knowledge and skills developed in school to solving complex, real-world problems.
What general advice would you give to an Electrical Engineer Internship?
Hovannes Kulhandjian Ph.D.: Negotiate Your Starting Salary: Research industry salary standards and be prepared to negotiate a competitive starting salary based on your qualifications and experience. Pursue In-Demand Skills: Develop specialized skills and certifications that are in high demand within the industry. This can make you more valuable to employers. Seek Opportunities for Advancement: Look for roles with potential for growth and advancement within the company. Express your interest in taking on challenging projects and responsibilities. Leverage Internships and Experience: Demonstrate your value to employers by showcasing your internships, projects, and relevant experience. Stay Informed: Keep up with industry trends and market conditions. Staying informed can help you position yourself for better opportunities and salary increases.
What Electrical Engineer Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Hovannes Kulhandjian Ph.D.: Programming and Software Development: As technology advances, the integration of hardware and software becomes more prevalent. Familiarity with programming languages like Python, C++, or MATLAB can be beneficial. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: These technologies are being increasingly used in electrical engineering applications such as signal processing, automation, and control systems. Data Analysis: The ability to interpret and analyze data from sensors and other sources will become more important as data-driven decision-making continues to grow. Cybersecurity: Protecting electrical systems from cyber threats is becoming increasingly important. Understanding cybersecurity principles can be a valuable asset. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaboration across different engineering disciplines and fields such as computer science, mechanical engineering, and environmental science will be essential for complex projects.
What will help Electrical Engineer Interns increase their earning potential?
Hovannes Kulhandjian Ph.D.: Stay Curious and Keep Learning: The field of electrical engineering is constantly evolving. Stay up to date with the latest advancements and technologies through continuous learning and professional development. Build a Strong Foundation: Focus on mastering the core principles of electrical engineering to provide a strong foundation for your career. Network: Build professional relationships with peers, mentors, and industry experts. Attend conferences and seminars to expand your network and learn from others. Gain Practical Experience: Look for internships, co-op positions, or entry-level jobs that provide hands-on experience. This practical exposure will help you apply your knowledge and stand out in the job market. Develop Soft Skills: Communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills are crucial in any engineering role. Cultivate these skills to work effectively with others and advance your career.
What general advice would you give to an Electrical Engineer Internship?
Aaron Stillmaker Ph.D.: I highly encourage students starting to look for jobs to get their resume polished both by talking with a trusted professor and taking advantage of career centers at their university. I always suggest that students highlight fascinating projects on their resumes that highlight their knowledge base without having to list skills, and they need to be ready to talk intelligibly about those projects. I would make sure to prepare for interviews by brushing up on design course material that are taught in the courses most closely pertaining to the specialty they are interviewing for. I also suggest they contact professors they have a good relationship with to ask them to reach out to their contacts in the field, as many professors have connections in the industry and are happy to help their good students attain good jobs.
What Electrical Engineer Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Aaron Stillmaker Ph.D.: I think that in the next 3-5 years electrical engineering jobs will start to require more programming, especially scripting languages like Python, and artificial intelligence. Machine learning is becoming prevalent in many fields, and likely most prevalent in electrical and computer engineering. A baseline understanding of the theory of machine learning is something that all electrical and computer engineers should have when entering the job market.
What will help Electrical Engineer Interns increase their earning potential?
Aaron Stillmaker Ph.D.: To maximize your salary I always tell my students to make sure to research what the average entry engineer in that specialty and location makes, which is easy both by researching online and talking with colleagues. Make sure to apply to many positions at the same time and ideally get interviews around the same time. Ideally if you get multiple companies that want to hire them, they can use the job offers to compete with each other. I also always tell students to ideally not say a desired number first, and no matter what the hiring manager offers them they should ask for more. If the number is below average, they have a strong hand to ask for more, but even with a good offer, I always suggest students ask for 10% more than what was offered. The worst thing they can say is no, and hold firm on the offer, so they have nothing to lose.
What general advice would you give to an Electrical Engineer Internship?
Arie Nakhmani: Electrical Engineering combines a dozen sub-fields such as power systems, telecommunications, embedded systems, machine learning/AI, hardware design, signal analysis, IoT, etc., and jobs in these different subfields could look completely different. Some involve office work with the computer designing algorithms or optimizing processes, others might involve inspecting power transmission lines with drones in the middle of the forest. Some jobs include testing airplane engines and others designing microchips and working in clean rooms.
What Electrical Engineer Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Arie Nakhmani: Electrical Engineering has always (from its inception) been a good profession to enter, but now it is better than ever. Now everything is becoming Electrical Engineering, and the world cannot survive without it even for a few days. Electrical Engineering is the most necessary profession for the survival of modern society.
What will help Electrical Engineer Interns increase their earning potential?
Arie Nakhmani: People who have EE degrees like being able to choose from a variety of EE sub-fields and being able to enter new areas because they learn science fundamentals and math, critical thinking, and the ability to solve difficult problems that are very helpful in life regardless of the job they pick. People dislike that solving difficult problems is difficult and requires a lot of effort. Not all are ready to put their effort in.
What general advice would you give to an Electrical Engineer Internship?
Dr. Arif Engin: Electrical engineers solve problems by skillfully applying mathematics and science. Electrical engineering classes are challenging at college, and electrical engineers must embrace lifelong learning to remain at the top of their skills. In the end, seeing the results of their work in a finished product is a rewarding experience.
What Electrical Engineer Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Arif Engin: Electrical engineering graduates are sought by a wide range of employers in government and industry for many different types of work. The top occupations in electrical engineering fields are projected to grow and sometimes require an advanced degree.
What will help Electrical Engineer Interns increase their earning potential?
Dr. Arif Engin: Electrical engineers solve problems by skillfully applying mathematics and science. Electrical engineering classes are challenging at college, and electrical engineers must embrace lifelong learning to remain at the top of their skills. In the end, seeing the results of their work in a finished product is a rewarding experience.
Mahmoud Manzoul
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Jackson State UniversityJackson State University
Electrical, Electronics, And Communications Engineering
What general advice would you give to an Electrical Engineer Internship?
Mahmoud Manzoul: For new graduates, I suggest embracing adaptability to evolving technologies. Electrical Engineering constantly pioneers new technological frontiers, demanding continual learning to integrate or innovate upon these advancements throughout your career.
What Electrical Engineer Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mahmoud Manzoul: In addition to honing strong technical abilities, cultivating soft skills is paramount. Unfortunately, as professors, we often overlook the significance of these skills, which are indispensable for thriving in one's career. Soft skills encompass effective communication across diverse audiences and the ability to collaborate harmoniously within a team.
What will help Electrical Engineer Interns increase their earning potential?
Mahmoud Manzoul: Maximizing salary potential hinges on thorough preparation during college. I cannot stress enough the importance of securing internships before completing your degree. Internships not only facilitate networking with seasoned engineers but also foster the development of essential soft skills crucial for professional success.
Jay Weitzen Ph.D.
Interim Chair Electrical & Computer Engineering, ProfessorUniversity of Massachusetts - Lowell
Electrical & Computer Engineering Department
What skills stand out on Electrical Engineer Internship resumes?
Jay Weitzen Ph.D.: We are seeing the most demand for strong software skills and even more software/hardware (embedded real-time software) skills such as FPGA, System on a Chip, and other embedded hardware-software systems. The other hot area is in the RF/microwave area.
What soft skills should all Electrical Engineer Interns possess?
Jay Weitzen Ph.D.: Being able to communicate effectively written and orally. Being able to work and function on a team.
What skills will help Electrical Engineer Interns earn the most?
Jay Weitzen Ph.D.: Knowledge of the tools used by the companies in their areas seems to be one of the strongest things on a resume. For example, in the RF/microwave area, knowing HFSS or Microwave Office. In the digital space, Verilog, VHDL, and other tools. Network design and debugging tools.
Florian Solzbacher
Department Chair, Professor, Elect & Computer EngineeringUniversity of Utah
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
What skills stand out on Electrical Engineer Internship resumes?
Florian Solzbacher: Examples of having applied the knowledge gained in their studies to practical examples of solving engineering problems that require the combination of skills and at least some understanding of system engineering aspects are important signals that graduating engineers are ready to be productive in a real-world setting are always important. Obviously, participating in projects that address current "hot topic" problems, e.g., in robotics, AI/machine learning, power systems, biomedical applications, or that resonate with specific problems an employer is currently working on, will raise a student's profile.
Supplemental skills, such as Entrepreneurial or business training, can enhance and differentiate a student's resume. This shows that an engineer is not solely focused on the core technical engineering skills but does have an understanding of the driving forces and their interaction in a real-world business setting, that are not only part of the design requirements for a product (e.g., design to cost), but also often drive the selection of technical solution paths, after all, every development and product has to make business sense. Imagine two young engineers proposing a solution to their manager for a new product: one maybe even over-exceeds the technical requirements, but the development and/or manufacturing and servicing effort and cost is significantly higher than a colleagues solution that may only just about reach the requirements, or maybe even compromise on some specifications, but that is far cheaper to develop, make and service and that may allow entering a far larger market- chances are very high that the business may decide to go for the "inferior" solution from a technical point of view, that is, however, the better product. This supplemental skill set is a significant competitive advantage to have as an engineer.
What soft skills should all Electrical Engineer Interns possess?
Florian Solzbacher: Engineering is about teamwork. All major quantum leaps and most products require extensive system engineering and diverse skills. Engineers need to be able to understand the languages and workflows not only across engineering disciplines but also ranging into business, legal and ethical aspects of their work. This includes communication and project management skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Electrical Engineer Interns?
Florian Solzbacher: First of all, the fundamentals (mostly math, physics, materials/chemistry) and basic EE/CE concepts need to be solid. As stated above: the ability to solve real-world development and system integration problems that require "global optimization" of technical performance as opposed to local optimization of specific sub-systems or components is really critical.
Beyond that, given the accelerating breadth of specializations and sub-areas, it is important that students have sufficient depth and breadth of knowledge in the specific area they are targeting. It is important that schools are offering tracks and guidance as to what skills are needed to allow students to successfully master engineering tasks across a range of sub-areas. We have to recognize that in the context of a 4-year program, it is no longer possible to train a student in all areas of ECE - a combined BS/MS degree or MS/Ph.D. degree obviously provides more runway to add breadth.
What skills will help Electrical Engineer Interns earn the most?
Florian Solzbacher: The ability to solve problems efficiently and effectively (i.e., fast and cost-effective) really is critical to companies: every month delay in completion delays revenue and income, which may even dwarf the additional engineering cost. Significantly increased development cost also raises the cost of the product, impacting margins. Developments that come with significant after-sales service and support costs also have to be considered.
From experience, there are, of course, "expert tracks" in many companies that allow an engineer to reach very high compensation levels because they are one of a few who solve specific complicated problems. In some cases, this can go all the way to below board level. In most cases, however, management skills (personnel, projects, budgets) lead to tracks that eventually increase management of engineering activities and decrease the active engineering. In recent years, more and more high-tech companies have moved to have engineers lead the entire business as CEO.
Starting your own business is another path to high incomes, but associated with significant risks, and initially possibly much lower income than a job at an established company.
Interpersonal skills - which do not often come easy to engineers who tend to be focused on solving technical problems - must also never be underestimated because so much in solving real-world problems requires communication and balancing competing needs and resources. And we all stand and fall with the team and the people that make up the team. Long term, an engineering leader who is able to coalesce a strong team around a target objective and motivate his team and who is able to mediate inter-team challenges tends to be far more successful than managers who ignore those aspects.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Electrical Engineer Interns?
John Chandy Ph.D.: From an employment perspective, I don't think there will be a long-term impact on graduates due to the coronavirus pandemic. When the pandemic first started last spring, a number of our students did lose job offers as companies scrambled to adjust to the changing dynamic due to the initial lockdowns. However, as companies adapted to flexible work environments to support online and work-from-home employees, much of the hiring has returned to almost normal. Fortunately, the engineering workforce has not been affected as much as those in other areas such as travel, leisure, and hospitality. As companies learn from the remote work experience over the past year, many of them will make a decision to remain virtual even after the pandemic ends. From our graduates point of view, that could open up significantly more job opportunities especially for those who for whatever reason cannot easily move.
That is not to say that the pandemic has not had an impact on our students. While the students' employability has not been affected, having predominantly online classes for the past year has deprived students of a truly rich learning experience. For the most part, as educators, we believe the online experience has not diminished the delivery of the desired learning objectives, but they have lost the ability to work on hands-on projects, interact with and learn from other students, and also have meaningful interactive sessions with faculty. The impact of losing a year of learning due to less than ideal circumstances will be difficult to measure.
What type of skills will young Electrical Engineer Interns need?
John Chandy Ph.D.: I don't think my answer to this question would be any different to what I may have answered a decade ago. The technical skills that they acquire as a student will establish their qualifications to do the work. That means understanding the fundamentals of computer engineering hardware and software as well as more advanced training in specific areas of interest. However, to be truly effective in a company, they need to be able to communicate (both orally and in written form) and they need to show that they can work in a team. Most modern engineering systems will often require a computer engineer to design the control/compute interface and that often requires that the computer engineer be able to understand the language of electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and computer scientists. Finally, computer engineering is a fast-moving field, and new graduates should be prepared to continuously learn new technologies and approaches.
What experience really stands out on Electrical Engineer Internship resumes?
John Chandy Ph.D.: Obviously, experience that is most relevant to the job is what will stand out the most. An internship that allow students to do actual engineering design is attractive since it shows that students are familiar with the industry work environment. In-school experiences can include working in a research lab and participating in technical clubs (like IEEE or ACM). Use the resume to highlight interesting projects that may have done in various classes. Try to get experience in a variety of areas - software, hardware, networking, etc. Even if you don't have an internship or research experience in some of these areas, the nature of computer engineering is that you can always do things on your own - contribute to a open-source software, build something using an Arduino or Raspberry Pi.
What type of skills will young Electrical Engineer Interns need?
Michel Audette Ph.D.: One skill that is timeless is the ability to communicate effectively, such as taking a complex design process and distilling it into intuitive slides or reports that lend themselves for senior managers to process in order to come to a decision. An engineer who has that ability will always have some tools in his/her toolbox that makes that individual attractive to a company and to the local technical ecosystem, thus a ripe target for headhunters who willing to champion them to companies looking for top talent. Moreover, speaking and writing well also comes with a vital component of diplomacy, especially in the context of increasingly distributed company workforce: the ability not just to get on with colleagues from different parts of the world, increasingly heterogeneous in terms of gender and possibly sexual preference, but embrace them for who they are. This is often maps to opportunities to travel, as some collaborations lead to meetings face to face, post-covid.
This embrace of heterogeneity is even more relevant in that technical problems being solved are increasingly multi-disciplinary, so that an engineer may need to interact with biologists, physicians, clothing or furniture designers, mathematicians, lawyers, and so on: in my own case, I have to wear a multitude of different hats, while recognizing someone who is a perfect fit for one of those hats when I meet that individual, and making the most of that opportunity to build a truly competent team. Engineers must be able to hold a meaningful, respectful conversation with any of these counterparts, not just discuss code or circuit design. I would advocate that they spend time reading, to maintain their vocabulary and stay abreast of the world around them.
Another one that I advocate is the ability to tap into a revolution that has occurred in parallel with the advent of Internet and cellular technologies, these past 30+ years: the explosion of open-source software tools. I am a committed proponent of open source, as a former contributor to them while previously employed at Kitware (a pioneer in this area, behind VTK, ITK, CMake, and myriad others). I see job ads in Indeed.com that specifically ask for the ability to work with these tools, since they save work and make it possible to produce a prototype in much less time than developing it completely in-house. This ability does not just presuppose the ability to program at a competent level, but other abilities: the ability to track bugs that not be in the calling program, but in the open-source software library itself, the willingness to get answers in the community of developers, the eye for details that extends to graphical processor units that result in accelerations an order of magnitude or better, and so on. These go way beyond writing a self-contained algorithm. Hardware designers may also have similar tools, based on broad standards, Arduino, and the prevalence of 3D printers that make it possible to physically replicate digital models.
Finally, a vital skill is the willingness and ability to keep learning, while embracing revolutions that take place at breathtaking pace. The latest one is the reliance on deep neural networks (DNNs) to synthesize algorithms that can learn and adapt to their data, with much faster performances than feasible with the previous algorithms that DNNs have replaced. The point to make here is not to embrace neural networks in a proximal sense, but that we cannot anticipate what will come next, downstream of DNNs. Graduates of 2021 have to be willing to keep their curiosity and work ethic enough to be responsive to the next wave of technologies, and embrace them for the opportunities that they represent.
What experience really stands out on Electrical Engineer Internship resumes?
Michel Audette Ph.D.: I am not in Human Resources, so I cannot speak from that perspective, but I suspect that a resume that can describe in a few words not only some meaningful projects undertaken by the engineer, but through a few well-crafted sentences, convey that this engineer has an important role in a design project and possesses real expertise rather than just the ability to insert buzzwords in a sentence. I once heard Elon Musk say in describing who he hired for Tesla, that a true expert can describe a problem at several scales; I like that definition. It takes more than buzzword-level expertise to do that.
I also believe that employers are looking for certain industry-standard tools, such as GIT software revision control or MS TEAMs, as well as relevant open-source tools that relate to that specific area of the company in question. I am convinced that they also value any leadership qualities that they can ascertain from a resume, where a candidate makes the case for having a formative impact on the outcome of a project. Not a blowhard, made-for-TV, hierarchical take on leadership, but the ability to take a high-level view of the state of a project, parse it in terms of what the bottlenecks or pitfalls are, find a technical solution collegially, as well as rally and motivate collaborators to see those critical areas through.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Electrical Engineer Interns?
Michel Audette Ph.D.: My take on this is what I've seen with my wife's work in industry, which suggests that the industrial landscape is going to be increasingly equipped for, and open to, remote work. I think that the implication for graduates is that they may need to be flexible about working within a geographically distributed team. If company deciders feel that someone is worth employing because of a unique skill set, then they would typically be more willing to hire that person even if unable to make it to work regularly, if that is feasible given the nature of the work; some work, such as hardware testing or industrial production, may not lend itself to remote contributions.
Nonetheless, for those areas that accommodate geographically distributed activity, such as software development, graduates can expect to interact with team members all over the US, possibly all over the world, if someone is deemed unique enough to hire despite living abroad. This places a high premium on the ability and willingness to work in a heterogeneous team, where not only will members look different, but also have myriad accents in their English, which will also impose a certain adaptability and tolerance to team members.
A related impact could also be that global hiring will make it easier for multi-national companies to hire a portion of their talent in countries where wages are lower and motivate US-based engineers to seek out graduate degrees in order to increase their competitiveness and employability at US salaries.
Maria Jacob
ProfessorUniversity of Central Florida
Department of ECE
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Electrical Engineer Interns?
Maria Jacob: Well, this is a somewhat difficult question, since it's hard to predict what is going to happen.
Given the current research, everything seems to indicate that even with the vaccine, we won't be able to come back to what we were used to for a long time.
This will mean, work and classes from home for some time. Although I see and enjoy some of the advantages of staying at home (that go from clothing to saving money on gas), I feel we are losing some of the human contact we were used to. Of course, we have software like Zoom or Meet that helps us to communicate with others, but this virtuality is just simply different. For example, some students do just fine, and others can't deal with the fact that they have to write their questions over a chat. More than that, some students have family making everything more difficult.
There are other aspects that also impact the knowledge the new graduates have at the time of start working. For example, we as professors also have to take into account that we are living special circumstances and that some students may find this new system more difficult. Then, sometimes is easy to overcompensate and be more lenient with some things. If we are not careful this could lead to students graduating having less knowledge in some topics, where students pass a class not knowing certain topics that they should.
What type of skills will young Electrical Engineer Interns need?
Maria Jacob: I feel that the skills needed will not change to what is currently required; however, it may well happen that some of the graduates don't have them. For example, good communications skills. It may happen that the graduates have good written skills but not verbal, since more and more we send emails than calling someone. I know, I sound like an old person, which is funny because I'm writing this...
What experience really stands out on Electrical Engineer Internship resumes?
Maria Jacob: Well, this is a too general question to answer. It totally depends on which job you are applying. Is the graduate going to the industry or research? Is the job for testing, designing, coding? What will stand out will depend on this.
However, if I really have to choose one, I always thought that one of the most important things you can learn is to work in a multidisciplinary group. Then, if before graduation a student can have an internship either in the industry or in research that will definitely stand out.
What type of skills will young Electrical Engineer Interns need?
Eric Miller Ph.D.: Collaboration and communication. The most pressing problems being addressed by engineers all have critical, non-technical components. The impact of possible solutions on people or the environment, the ethical implications of new and evolving technologies, the tradeoffs of investing in one area rather than another; all of these and related issues are increasingly integral to the engineering process. As such, it is critical for new graduates to be able to work not just well, but truly productively with people from all sorts of backgrounds and in all different fields. Central to this effort is an ability to communicate technical issues clearly and concisely to highly intelligent people whose skills may be in very non-technical areas such as law, public policy, media, and the like.
What experience really stands out on Electrical Engineer Internship resumes?
Eric Miller Ph.D.: Having been an academic my entire career, I am perhaps not the best person to be answering this question. Certainly, when looking for prospective graduate students, I like to see a resume with one or two long-term research projects culminating in some sort of archival publication. To me this type of record indicates the ability to look deeply into a problem over an extended period of time which is the type of dedication one needs for research. Though not on a resume per se, strong letters of reference are important as are grades in those undergraduate and upper-level classes most aligned with a student's intellectual interests. Finally, I really want to see strong writing skills. Something like a paper that could get into a decent academic conference is good. Something closer to a journal article is much better. I am looking for the ability to write a clear and coherent introduction, strong discussion and exposition of the underlying problem and proposed solution, a description of the experiments, and analysis of results.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Electrical Engineer Interns?
Eric Miller Ph.D.: I believe that there may well be some long term impact. Hopefully not in terms of health, but perhaps in terms of the way we work. It is possible, if not likely, that remote work and education will not be going away any time soon. How they evolve over the coming years depends on a variety of factors including the extent to which technology provides the "being there" feeling that is currently absent or at least rather attenuated when using products like Zoom, WebEx or Teams.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Electrical Engineer Interns?
Joshua Pearce Ph.D: I think the virtualization of work and automation, in general, has been accelerated by the pandemic. This means that the competition for what most of us consider 'normal' jobs will become fiercer, and the skills a graduate needs to get those jobs are becoming more sophisticated. Graduates need to work at home, and a lot of it relies on the advanced use of computing (think AI, CV, etc., not merely staring at a screen for entertainment).
This also means graduates are competing against a global workforce - hungry people willing to work hard. Overall, we have also seen a massive shift in wealth in the last year, the undereducated are now in real trouble, and the hyper-educated and wealthy are better off than ever before. Graduates will want to make sure they stay in the latter group, bolstering their education and picking up advanced skills. This does not have to be a chore - one of the best ways to do this is to dive into an open-source project and maybe save/make a little money along the way.
What type of skills will young Electrical Engineer Interns need?
Joshua Pearce Ph.D: The trends were already present before COVID - but they have been accelerated: graduates need to work remotely and function in virtual teams on large complex projects. Many jobs have been virtualized, and recruiters are targeting talent with proven abilities. Many graduates received a crash course in large-scale cooperation with massive open-source development projects like the thousands of engineers that joined Helpful Engineering to combat COVID. They worked on everything from designing PPE that overran the NIHs 3D printing Exchange to complicated electronics for open-source ventilators.
What experience really stands out on Electrical Engineer Internship resumes?
Joshua Pearce Ph.D: There has been an ongoing trend of employers wanting to see students' work before interviewing or making a job offer. One of the best ways for graduates to stand out is to have made a significant contribution to an open-source project. Your resume then starts to look more like a portfolio than just a list of positions or skills. This is already mature in the computer and software industries, but now we see it in hardware. For example, in manufacturing industries, employers want to see your CAD work - what open-source designs have you shared on sites like YouMagine and MyMiniFactory?
How do you envision technology impacting Electrical Engineer Interns in the next 5 years?
Dr. John Daigle Ph.D.: Starting with automatic speech recognition and leading to biometrics in identifications/verifications of people and self-driving autonomous vehicles in the near future, artificial intelligence/machine learning continues to play a big role in the development of our society and our thinking with respect to ethics and safety. Additionally, wireless access to information and entertainment and connectivity for data-intensive applications in IoT and industrial IoT would skyrocket with emerging 5G and future technologies. Tomorrow's electrical engineers would work in interdisciplinary teams that would increasingly involve mechanical and biomedical engineers and computer scientists.
What type of skills will young Electrical Engineer Interns need?
Dr. Ramanarayanan "Vish" Viswanathan Ph.D.: All graduates need to 1) have a broad understanding of electrical engineering and have programming skills, 2) be able to work collaboratively, and 3) effectively communicate with co-workers, both orally and through writing. Additionally, depending upon the nature of the job, some would need effective communication skills to interface with external stakeholders, and some would need strong foundations on theory and applications of electrical engineering, including networking of computers and devices.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Electrical Engineer Interns to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ramanarayanan "Vish" Viswanathan Ph.D.: In general, the whole of the United States has a variety of jobs for graduating electrical engineers. Some of our graduates have landed jobs with companies in the Western part of the US, and many have obtained jobs in companies in and around Mississippi, including those in Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Michigan, to name a few.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Electrical Engineer Interns?
Hai Ho Ph.D.: I believe the impact is short term, and once vaccines are effective and available, our graduates will have expected graduation and access to a responsive job market.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Electrical Engineer Interns to find work opportunities?
Hai Ho Ph.D.: For computer engineers, most sectors still have a very healthy demand, because this type of engineer is so versatile and critical in any systems or products involving electronics and sensors. The Southeast region, such as companies in metro Atlanta, hired many of our spring graduates during the pandemic.
How do you envision technology impacting Electrical Engineer Interns in the next 5 years?
Hai Ho Ph.D.: We are heading into the so-called fourth industrial revolution with blossoming technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, mixed reality, etc. Therefore, this field will experience tremendous growth and opportunities.
What Electrical Engineer Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Gary Woods Ph.D.: Your most valuable assets are your technical skills and your network. If you have time to improve your technical skills, focus on high-return areas. Data science is a good example: it seems to be in high demand despite the recession.
You should not neglect your network. If it's hard to find a paying job, try to do some volunteer work in an area of your expertise. If you have coding skills, there are plenty of nonprofits who could use some help. You can build your resume a bit while expanding your network.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Electrical Engineer Interns?
Gary Woods Ph.D.: My guess is that the pandemic will accelerate existing trends, such as the largest engineering-job growth being in countries like China, South Korea, and India. Also, engineers need to get used to working remotely more of the time. There will be fewer face-face meetings in the future.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Electrical Engineer Internship job market given the pandemic?
Aaron Ohta Ph.D.: I think the EE job market will be relatively stable in the near future. There are many areas that continue to need electrical engineers right now. Obvious examples are companies that help with communication, such as video chats. Our recent graduates are not having problems getting jobs, and I don't think that employment will be a problem for electrical engineers, even with the impacts of COVID-19. Of course, if any electrical engineers are having difficulties entering the job market, now would be a great time to go back to school to get a graduate degree. Universities typically see enrollments rise when the job market is poor, as it makes sense to learn new skills and earn more degrees to make yourself more marketable, once the job market improves.
What type of skills will young Electrical Engineer Interns need?
Aaron Ohta Ph.D.: Graduates will, of course, need a solid technical background. They should have a good grasp of the fundamentals, and also know how to apply that knowledge to new situations, as technology is always changing. I've also heard from many recent graduates that they appreciate the "soft skills" that they learned in school, like how to give effective technical presentations and how to write technical reports.
How do you envision technology impacting Electrical Engineer Interns in the next 5 years?
Aaron Ohta Ph.D.: I would argue that EE is a field that drives technology. Big data and artificial intelligence are enabled by electrical engineers, and are already making big impacts. I expect that trend will continue. That may affect the specializations and subtopics that electrical engineers want to pursue.